During the pre-Civil War era, a number of states in America had laws on the books to prevent Black Americans from learning to read and write. Both White and Black people risked "flogging" (public beatings), fines and other penalties for "teaching a slave to read".

During the American Apartheid era (1864-1964), Black American schools received "used books" discarded by White schools, had teachers who received "practical teaching certificates" to teach in Black schools and education facilities for Black Americans offered training only up to the 7th grade level.

The Department of Education decided to STOP teaching "cursive writing" in public schools SEVEN YEARS ago however, the Florida court "poked fun" at Trayvon Martin's girl-friend (during the Zimmerman trial) who stated during her testimony that she could not read "cursive writing".

The young woman who was mocked is a product of Amercan public school education and is like thousands of young Americans who have never been exposed to the art of writing in cursive form.

Following the Trayvon Martin-Zimmerman trial, many Black Americans are steeped in emotions similar to that demonstrated in 1963 which fueled the march on Washington, DC. That was 50 years ago.

What has improved for the Black American since then- it is clear that American justice is not the same for all Americans. Black Americans have been marching for centuries and have barely moved an inch. There has to be more effective ways to command change.

Insanity is defined as "doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different outcome". It is past due that Black Americans change strategy in their quest for justice and equality. American public education does not offer the ticket to success that Black forefathers dreamed of.